The True People of God

About this sermon

Can you have any more important question than this? What characterizes a real Christian? What characterizes someone who truly is a child of God, who truly is a member of the family of God, who truly has eternal life? This is a question that is addressed throughout God’s word. Again and again a distinction is drawn. Again and again the Bible examines the one who claims to know God, but who doesn’t, and compares that kind of person to the one who truly belongs to God. Just one example is found in 1 John 2:4-5 ESV 1 John 2:4 Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments ais a liar, and athe truth is not in him, 5 but whoever akeeps his word, in him truly bthe love of God is perfected. cBy this we may know that we are in him: (1Jo 2:4 ESV) That is what Paul is doing in this 3rd verse. He has called upon the Philippians to be discerning, and he has described the false teachers that they are to be on the lookout for. But now in verse 3, he draws a distinction. This is what discernment does. Discernment requires making distinctions. If there is truth, then there is error. When there are competing claims for truth, then someone is right and someone is wrong, or both may be wrong, but both cannot be right (the law of non-contradiction). When the competing claims about truth have to do with eternal matters, when the souls of people are at stake, then we cannot be shy about making those distinctions. Paul does not hesitate. He doesn’t treat the false circumcision as though they are harmless. Nor does he treat the biblical gospel and its preachers as though they are on equal footing. He makes plain that what is at stake here is whether or not someone is a child of God at all. -The seriousness is seen in that he makes plain that he doesn’t mind teaching them about it again. -The seriousness is seen in the repetition of the warning -The seriousness is seen in the strong language that he uses to describe them. -The seriousness is seen in that he puts them on the side of false religion. If you want to remember a clear and biblical description of true Christianity, of a genuine believer, here is the place. Paul describes the true Christian in four ways. THE TRUE CHRISTIAN HAS BEEN INTERNALLY TRANSFORMED When Paul says, “We are the circumcision”, he means of course, Christian Jews in contrast with the very kind of Jewish person who was troubling the church. Circumcision was a sign of faith. It was the mark of the people who were in covenant with God. To say “We are the true circumcision” is to say, we are God’s people. But there is more to it than just this general statement. On more than one occasion we read that circumcision now, after the finished work of Christ, in this day of the church, is a matter of the heart. *Colossians 2:8-23 *Ephesians 2:11-22 ESV Romans 2:25 For circumcision indeed is of value aif you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if aa man who is uncircumcised keeps bthe precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded1 as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law awill condemn you who have bthe written code1 and circumcision but break the law. 28 For ano one is a Jew bwho is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one ainwardly, and bcircumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. cHis praise is not from man but from God. (Rom 2:25 ESV)